So I'm getting my first BP next week, and I wanted to set up my tank so it could be running for when she got here. I have ALMOST everything set up, but I'm having some heating problems...
In my setup I still have to:
- Cover the 2 glass sides with black paper
- Buy/insert fake plants
This thread is really only about heating, not stuff I don't yet have.


This is my tank. Some information:
- It's 30 gallons (Exo Terra Large Wide).
- I'm using about 1 and 1/2 inches of Coconut Fiber substrate.
- It's raised off the glass with "feet" on each corners, so the UTH doesn't touch/damage the table.
- The UTH is on the righthand side in the picture ~ this should be my warm side.
- The CHE is over the center (a bit to the left) to create a gradient and prevent temp buildup on the warm side.
- The water bowl is also in the center, but to the front so it isn't under the lamp (so the water is still cool). I put it in the center to help with humidity.
- The CHE and UTH are both hooked up to JumpStart thermostats. The CHE/background lamp are on a 12 hour day/12 hour night timer, so the ambient temp drops to around 76 at night.
- The CHE is raised as high as the bar will allow.
- The CHE is set to 80F.
- The UTH is set to 92F.

The temperature measurements (from temp gun):
- Under the CHE, it's 90F.
- Inside the "cool" hide, it's 83F.
- AROUND the CHE, the ground is 80F.
- The water is 70F.
- Inside the "warm" hide, it's 91F.
- Between the "warm" hide and the front of the tank, it's 74F.
- Between the "warm" hide and the CHE, it's 82F.
- The surface of the "warm" hide is 78F.
- The surface of the "cool" hide is 86F. It's only warm to the touch, not enough to burn.

While the UTH is set to 90F, I set it up over a day ago and it's climbing very, very slowly. Regardless, it doesn't seem right that it's 90F under the CHE when the thermostat is set to 80F, AND the UTH area is only around 74F...
It's less of a gradient and more of concentrated areas of hot and cold. With the hot areas being inside the hides and under the CHE, and the cold being everywhere else! I put my hand on the ground, even touched the glass below the substrate, and the UTH is hardly warm.

The measurements seem a bit weird don't they? If so, how can I fix it?

Thanks in advance, and sorry this is such a long post!